Chemotherapy for Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens has made an announcement – he has throat cancer.

I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my esophagus. This advice seems persuasive to me. I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice.

This is somewhat shocking, yet understandingly predictable given Mr. Hitchens personal vices. The sad news also serves as an unwelcome reminder that each of us shines for a brief time before returning to the void – even our heroes.

Just pause for a moment to think about this: not too many years ago medical science had no idea what cancer was, let alone how to treat it. Modern understandings of the human body obtained through education, dedication, and millions of man hours of careful observation has resulted in knowledge about this terrible disease. Science is the only methodology that will save Hitchens and others from suffering, pain, or possibly death.

Prayer is pretending to do something to make yourself feel better.  It’s nothing more than wishful thinking.

I wish Mr. Hitchens all the very best, and sincerely hope he makes a speedy recovery. I take it your in the best medical care available.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1735511620 Jessamine Gibb

    Oh no Hitchie!!!! I love that dude, I might send him an email. He was a smoker (as am I unfortunately) so it is par for the course, but he is a truly decent gentleman and I feel much indebted to him :*(

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1735511620 Jessamine Gibb

    Cannot find any contact links…hmmm he probably wouldn't care about a random email anyway :-(

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/askegg askegg

      Message me on Facebook. I have his email address.

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44 – An Atheist Temple

BBC News – Row over Indonesia atheist Facebook post Priority is to protect marriage | Herald Sun No Fetus Can Feed Us | Unreasonable Faith Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0 | Video on TED.com


Further Reading

Dog Heads

The excellent British broadcaster BBC 4 recently aired a fascinating program called “The Medieval Mind” which explores the philosophy, theology, and predominate thinking of the dark ages.  The first episode deals with knowledge and revealed numerous intriguing insights into how the medieval mind determined epistemological truths. Monks, priests, and other godly people were in possession…
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Matt’s Human Morality

Matt Dillhunty (president of the Atheist Community of Austin, co-host of “Non-Prophets Radio“, and “The Atheist Experience”) recently debated Father Hans Jacobse (an Antiochian Orthodox Priest) at The University of Maryland on 16th November.  Full video of the event can be found here (although only 6 of the 9 videos have been posted online as…
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Aunt Matilda’s Cake

In the book “God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?” by John Lennox he puts forward the example of Aunt Matilda’s cake to illustrate the limited nature of science. The scenario has Aunt Matilda baking a cake and number of scientists are asked to describe it. A nutritionists might tell us about the carbohydrates, fats, sugars,…
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The perfect God

I want a god whose ultimate goals which do not necessitate the creation of mysterious suffering and death. I want a god who doesn’t violate causation by causing things to begin to exist from nothing in the absence of time. I want a god who does not give us “free will” then punishes us for…
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Atheism 2.0

“Atheism 2.0” is a 20 minute TED presentation by Alain de Botton in which he proposes a new approach to evangelising atheism. Alain suggests (apparently without evidence) that we have “secularised badly” and we should sift through the rituals, traditions, and behaviours of religion to identify and adopt their efficient mechanisms. “I have come here…
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The Bizarre Bible

Atheists are often told by believers to read the Bible and it will all become clear.  Trouble is, many of us have tried that and it doesn’t seem to have helped.  Take these verses for example: This does not sound like a great night out to me. “But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master…
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